Gary Ellerson

What would you tell your child?

by Gary,posted Mar 15 2012 8:25PM

In about two weeks, Nick Collins will be seeing his doctor to discuss whether his neck is fully healed in order to continue his football career and what risks he runs if he decides to play again. If he gets clearance to play, what should he do? Of course we love Nick Collins and we would like to see him play again, but if he were your child, what would you tell him. If it were my son, I would tell him to end his playing. Why take the risk of being paralyzed the rest of your life. I know this is a very sensitive subject in 1265 Lombardi. Mike McCarthy has already stated it is not a football issue, it is a life issue. He is exactly right.

This takes me back to the “85-“86 season when I played for the Packers. Tim Lewis (DB), who is now the Secondary Coach for the Atlanta Falcons, laid motionless on a Monday night at Lambeau field, after making a routine tackle. That tackle ended up being his last tackle. As a player, I can remember feeling sad and helpless for my teammate, but I also realized on this tragic day, that we must consider our quality of life when we are done playing this game. Nick is young, has a lot of life ahead of him, and has young kids that he needs to be active with. He could learn a lot from Tim Lewis who continued to have a successful career in football – just in a different capacity. Nick has a great knowledge of the game and would make a great coach of front office personnel.

What would you recommend to your child if he was facing this decision?

I would explain to my child that ...."your health is in deed...your wealth!!!...You can't buy,sell nor trade your health for any price!!!Nuture,protect and save it...Period!!!Enjoy the "simple" things in life and don't sweatthe "small" stuff!!!...Enuff said!!!...Right!!!

02/26/2013 8:31AM

Mike

I would explain to my child that ...."your health is in deed...your wealth!!!...You can't buy,sell nor trade your health for any price!!!Nuture,protect and save it...Period!!!Enjoy the "simple" things in life and don't sweatthe "small" stuff!!!...Enuff said!!!...Right!!!